Apparatus for treating zinc-bearing material.



'CAA. H.- DE SAULLES; "APPARATUS FOR TREAIlNG zmc BEARING MATERIAL.

7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28- 1915.

1 ,21 5,007. Patented Fe 6,1917

WITNESSES V A TTORNEY.

CHARLES A. H. DE SAULLES, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ZINC-BEARING MATERIAL.

Application filed June 28, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. H. on SAULLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improve- Speci'fication of Letters Patent.

ment in Apparatus for Treating Zinc-Bearing Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating zinc bearing material.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus for treating zinc bearing material, by which a retort may be continuously operated without having to delay the operation for the purpose of charging the retort.

In my pending application, Serial Number 36,150, is described and claimed an improved process which may be carried into effect with this apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide an apparatus for treating zinc bearing material, such as metal Zinc or spelter, with which zinc dust or blue powder may be obtained in large quantities and of exceeding fineness, or which may be so operated as to produce spclter in such quantities and of such grades as may be desired.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for treating zinc hearing material by which zinc dust or spelter may be produced and with which the molten lead may be readily withdrawn and not permitted to mingle with the spelter or zinc dust.

Another feature of my invention is a novel retort combined with means by which molten zinc bearing material may be fed into the retort.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred en'ibodimcnt of my invention,

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of my improved apparatus as arranged for the production of zinc (lust and spcltcr.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the feeding funnel being removed and a ladle shown inserted into the precipitating chamber.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a condenser which may be employed when spelter alone is to be produced.

Patented Feb. 6, 191?.

Serial no. cease.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates a furnace of the usual type having mounted therein a cylindrical retort 2, preferably inclined downwardly toward its rear end, whereby the molten charge 3 contained therein will have its greatest depth at the rear end of the retort.

The lower end of the retort 2 is normally closed by a closure it, of fire clay or other suitable material, the upper side of the closure being provided with an opening 5 adapted to receive the small discharge end of a feed funnel (3, Fig. 1, into which molten zinc bearing material, such as metal zinc or I spelter, is adapted to be poured for charging the retort.

The upper end of the retort 2, t its upper side, is provided with a discharge opening 7, through which the gases and the zinc vapor pass into a horizontally disposed condenser S, Figs. 1 and 2, the discharge end of which, when it is desired to produce zinc dust or blue powder, extends into one side of a vertical expansion or precipitating chamber 9, of any suitable. form, preferably rectangular in cross section, and provided in its opposite side with an opening 10 adapt ed to be normally closed by a closure 11.

The lower side of the condenser is pref-- erably provided with a pocket 12 adapted to receive and hold molten spelter 13, Fig. 2.

lVhcn zinc dust being produced, to pre vent two sudden cooling of the sine vapor when it passes through the condenser 8, the condenser may be encircled by a tube 1d, between which tube and the condenser may be placed a. suitable non-heating conducting material, such as asbestos 15.

In operating the apparatus for the production of zinc dust and spelter, the zinc bearing material, preferably in a. molten state, and preferably having a temperature slightly above the melting point oi? lead. is poured into the retort 2 through the tunnel (3. After the charge has been inserted, the teed :lunncl 6 removed and the opening 5 is closed with a suitable plug or closure 16, Fig. composed of fire clay or other suitable material. The furnace l is then fired so as to heat the charge 3 of molten. material to a temperature of approximately 1350 degrees Centigrade.

The zinc in the charge 3 will be vaporized and driven from the retort 2 through the discharge opening 7 and into the condenser 8. The latter is retained at such a temperature, if desired, that a portion of the zinc vapor, say from 25 to 50 per cent. will be liquefied and collected in the pocket 12 as spelter.

The remainder of the zinc vapor will pass from the condenser 8 intothe precipitating" chamber 9 in which the vapor will rapidly ladle 17 inserted through the opening 10 and under the discharge end of the condenser 8, after which the molten spelter 13 in the pocket 12 of the condenser may be scraped intothe ladle 17, and in such ladle removed from the apparatus.

By opening the closure 11 at suitable intervals, the temperature in the expansion chamber 9 may be retained at such a point that the zinc vapor therein will be precipitated in very fine particles.

For the purpose of removing the molten lead in the charge 3, the rear closure 1 is provided at its lower side with a discharge opening which is normally closed by a 010- sure 18, Fig. 2. By removing this closure, the molten lead represented in Fig. 2, by the solid dotted lines 19 may be withdrawn by gravity. As soon as the molten lead has been removed, a closure 18 is. reinserted.

An important feature of my invention consists in the means by which the retort may be charged with zinc bearing material in a molten state. As ordinarily practised, the charge is placed in the retort in the form of slabs or other solid condition. This requires a large amount of heat to reduce it to a'molten state, thereby requiring a large amount of fuel. Furthermore, the operation must be interrupted for the purpose of charging the retort from time to time. With my improved apparatus, the operation is continuous, the capacity of the apparatus is largely increased and much saving of fuel is effected. As ordinarily practised, the rear closure must be removed at intervals of 18 to 24 hours, thereby consuming time and labor and a lair e amount of fuel necessary to bring the retfirt again to the proper temperature. With my improved apparatus, the end closure is not removed in inserting a charge, and the time required to raise the molten charge to a vaporizing temperature is greatly reduced.

By employing a rearwardly inclined retort with an opening in the lower side of its lower end, lead and other impurities heavier than zinc may be readily withdrawn by gravity, upon removing the closure 18.

.on the inner wall of the retort.

When it is desired to produce spelter alone, the chamber 9, tube 14: and asbestos 15 may be glispensed with, and a condenser 20, Fig. 3, substituted for the condenser 8. The condenser-'20 is provided at its outer end with a closure 21 having in its upper side an opening 22 for the discharge of gas andltsuch small amount of zinc vapor as is not reduced to spelter in the condenser. The closure below the opening 22 is provided with a draw ofi opening normally closed by a closure 23. The latter is removed when the spelter is to be withdrawn from the condenser. If desired an ordinary prolong 24:, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, may be employed to catch the zinc dust formed from the vapor which passes out the opening 22.

When a high grade ofspelter is to be roduced, the molten charge 3, which has een introduced into the retort 2, as above desribed, is heated to approximately 1100 to 1200 degrees centigrade, the condenser 20 being retained at a suiiiciently low temperature as will efiect the liquefaction of substantially all the zinc vapor entering therein. For a lower grade of spelter, the temperature in the retort may be'increased.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. A retort having a vapor discharge opening and provided at one end with a closure having a feed opening, the closure below said feed opening being provided with an opening for the discharge of molten material, and means for feeding molten material into the retort through said feed opening. s

2. A retort, means for feeding molten madenser discharges.

5. A retort having at one eng a feed opening and below said opening a opening for discharge of molten material, a condenser into which the retort discharges, a'precipitating chamber into which the condenser discharges, and means for feeding molten material into the retort through said feed opening.

6. An inclined retort having at its upper end a discharge opening. and provided at its lower end with an opening for the discharge of molten .material, and having in its lower end above the last named opening a feed opening. I

7. An inclinedretort having at its upper end a discharge opening and provided at its lower end with an opening for the discharge of molten material, and means -for feeding molten material into said retort.

S. An inclined retort having at its upper end a discharge opening and provided at its lower end with a. feed opening and below said feed opening having an opening for discharge of molten material, and a funnel for feeding molten material into .the retort through said :t'eed Opening.

9. An inclined retort provided at its lower end with a feed opening and having below said feed opening an opening for discharge of molten material, and a condenser into which the upper end of the retort discharges.

10. An inclined retort provided at its lower end with an opening for the discharge of molten material, a condenser into which the upper end of the retort discharges, and a precipitating chamber into which the condenser discharges.

11. An inclined retort provided at its lower end with an opening for the discharge ofmolten material and having above said opening a feed opening, a condenser into which the upper end of the retort discharges,

and a precipitating chamber into which the condenser discharges.

12. An inclined retort provided at its lowerend with an opening for the discharge of molten material and having in said end above said opening-a feed opening, a condenser into which the upper end of the retort discharges, and means for feeding molten material into the retort through said feed opening.

13. An inclined retort provided at its lower end with an opening forthe discharge of molten material, and having in said end above said opening a feed opening, a condenser into which the upper end of the retort discharges, a precipitating chamber into which the condenser discharges, and means for feeding molten material into the retort through said feed opening.

ll. An inclined retort provided at its upper. end with a vapor discharge opening and having at its lower end a removable'closnrc provided with a feed opening, the closure below said feed opening having an opening for discharge of molten material, and a closure for the last named opening.

15. An inclined retort provided at its upper end with a vapor discharge opening and having at its lower end a removable closure provided with a feed opening. the closure below said feed opening having an opening for discharge of molten material, a closure for the last named opening, and means for Feeding molten material into the retort through said feed opening.

In testimony whereof I name to this specification.

CHARLES A. H. de SAULLES.

have signed my 

